Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Need for teachers with motivation, competency

Staff Reporter

Appointment of teachers must be extricated from ambit of reservation policy, says Vice-Chancellor

TIRUCHI: Appointment of teachers must be extricated from the ambit of reservation policy, suggested the Vice-Chancellor of Bharathidasan University, C. Thangamuthu.

Inaugurating the Indo-British seminar on `Educational technology for empowerment of disadvantaged communities' here recently, he said that though the philosophy of reservation was welcome in every other sphere, only candidates with right motivation and competency must be appointed in the field of education in the interests of disadvantaged communities.

On the role of technology in education, he said it was impossible to expose unprivileged students in government-run schools in rural areas to remote learning.

Since they are in a state of depression due to intellectual/ knowledge gap that exists between them and their counterparts in well-endowed urban schools, they required constant and compassionate prodding by teachers.

There could be a solution through ushering in a system wherein students, irrespective of their economic background, must necessarily be admitted to the nearest school from their residence. There can be accountability only if influential sections of the public keep a tab on the performance of educational institutions

Referring to the need for different learning materials for the physically challenged, he informed that the university has sent a proposal to the UGC to consider the Department of Educational Technology as a nodal resource centre for disabled children.

Delivering his keynote address, Charles Isitoa Juwah, Higher Education Link Overseas Coordinator, UK, observed that without access to basic education, the illiterate and poor have little opportunity of improving their means of livelihood and to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of their communities and the nation.

Inclusive education, particularly informal education, plays a vital role in improving the literacy rates of the disadvantaged and neo literates.

The three-year HE Link Project, he explained, provided functional education by focussing on functional literacy, health and hygiene, information and communication technology skills, and enhancing gender equity through leadership development.

R. Karpaga Kumaravel, Professor and Head, Department of Educational Technology, spoke on the initiative taken by the department under the aegis of the HE Link Project to organise meetings with parents of socially backward children in chosen schools in Tiruchi and Perambalur districts to inculcate in them an awareness of hygiene, environment.

The initiative enhanced their self-reliance and self-esteem, the basis for social equality.

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